UDF for 4 more medical colleges under govt control

Thiruvananthapuram: The liaison committee meeting of the ruling United Democratic Front held here on Wednesday recommended to the government to proceed with steps to set up four more medical colleges in the state.
The medical colleges, to be run under charitable
societies, would be strictly under government control and
companies on Public-Private Participation basis would be
formed to set up infrastructural facilties, UDF convenor P P
Thankachan told reporters after the meeting.

The Health Minister Adoor Prakash had presented a note
before the UDF with the proposal for five new medical
colleges. But a decision on the college proposed to be set up
at Manjeri in Malappuram had been temporarily shelved due to
non-availability of land, he said.

The new medical colleges would be in Pathanamthitta,
Kasaragod, Idukki and Alappuzha districts.

Both NRI and domestic investors would be wooed to get
funds for implementing the project, he said, adding, attempt
would be made to start the colleges next year itself.

The UDF also recommended to the government to raise the
pension age of all allopathic doctors to 60, considering
shortage of physicians across the state. Many vacancies were
lying vacant in different places. A decision on raising the
retirement age of homoeopathic and allopathic doctors would be
considered later.
The Chief Minister, Health Minister and Education
Minister had been asked to look into the problems relating to
admissions and fee structure in self-financing professional
colleges. They would hold talks with managements associations
before the end of this month, Thankachan said.

He rejected the Opposition allegation that UDF was trying
to postpone the by-election to Piravom assembly constituency,
necessitated by the death of KC-J leader TM Jacob.

"We want the polls to be held as early as possible and
has asked the government to urge the authorities concerned to
hold an early bypoll," he said.

Thankachan said the proposal to dissolve the director
board of the Pariyaram medical college hospital in Kannur,
which is facing allegations of irregularities, would be
discussed at the next UDF meeting.